How Mohammed bin Salman Will Become King of Saudi Arabia: 'Barring Accidents, It's a Done Deal'
It's time to SUBSCRIBE NOW ! Become a PAID SUBSCRIBER to REEDNEWSARABWORLD and get all the news the pros read. (Arab ambassador to the U.S.: "I learn something every day I didn't know"!)
"Free" subscriptions will expire on February 25. Click the SUBSCRIBE NOW button and sign on as ANNUAL SUBSCRIBER, or monthly if you choose. Those who remain as free subscribers will continue to receive one weekly report, Free Fridays. But you want the full experience, and read all as an ANNUAL SUBSCRIBER!
Thank you!
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Thursday, February 3, 2022! There's already speculation, if not planning, about how Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will succeed as king upon the death of his father. King Salman is 86 years old, reported in ill health, and described as looking increasingly frail.
MBS, now only 36, would succeed to the throne at an unusually young age: "That's one of the reasons he is so important. He will probably be in that position for a long, long time." A former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia says: “Barring accidents, it’s a done deal.”
Saudi Arabia has a Basic Law of Governance with a 34-member Allegiance Council that pledges allegiance to a new king or crown prince. When MBS became crown prince in 2017, he received 31 of the 34 votes. He is now believed to have more, not less, support.
Meanwhile, the United States is sending the USS Cole guided missile destroyer and fighter jets to help defend the United Arab Emirates from attack, It's the same USS Cole that was attacked by Al Qaeda while refueling in Yemen's Aden harbor in 2000. Suicide terrorists exploded a small boat alongside the Cole, killing 17 American sailors.
The United Arab Emirates announced the "interception and destruction: of three "hostile" drones, the fourth attack targeting the UAE in three weeks. The Iran nuclear negotiations in Vienna are described as reaching "the end game." The Arab League says there's no consensus on readmitting Syria, and Qatar says it won't recognize Syria's Assad regime.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Syria, and More.
Saudi Arabia in time will have a transition from the reigning King Salman to his heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, barring some unforeseen development. (That's happened before.) For 68 years, only the sons of Saudi Arabia's founder have ruled the country. MBS would be the first grandson. With King Salman in ill health at the age of 86, eyes are turning toward MBS, and there's concern in Washington and Riyadh about how the two countries might cooperate. The Biden administration has already effectively downgraded Saudi Arabia from ally to partner because of MBS.
There's also speculation about who might be named as crown prince when Mohammed bin Salman becomes king. One possibility is -- no one.
Insider, The Ascent of MBS: How Saudi Arabia will pass power to its crown prince when his ailing father dies.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was killed by an American raid in Syria. U.S. special forces landed in helicopters and assaulted a house, clashing for two hours. The U.S. commandos were aided by helicopter gunships, armed drones, and attack jets. Biden said the operation was undertaken "to protect the American people and our allies, and make the world a safer place."
USA Today, US raid in Syria kills top ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.
The American destroyer USS Cole will sail to Abu Dhabi and make a port call to "assist the UAE against the current threat." Cutting-edge fifth generation warplanes will also be sent, all following a phone call between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
AFP, US to send warship, fighter jets to UAE after Yemen attacks: statement.
CBS News, U.S. sending warship, jets to help protect Arab allies from missile and drone attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The United Arab Emirates' defense ministry said it intercepted and destroyed three hostile drones that penetrated the country's airspace. The drone attack was the latest in a series, the first three coming from the Houthi militia in Yemen, and the UAE has now successfully defended against all four attacks. The UAE defense ministry said it's ready to deal with any threats to the country. The latest attack was claimed by a shadowy group that identified itself as “True Promise Brigades.”
Arab News, UAE defense ministry says destroyed three hostile drones that penetrated airspace.
AFP, UAE reports new drone attack as US to send warship, jets.
Alarabiya, UAE intercepts, destroys three drones targeting the country: defense ministry.
Reuters, UAE says it blocked drone attack, shadowy group claims responsibility.
Tourists to the United Arab Emirates say they aren't deterred by missile attacks. In search of winter sun, the tourists aren't paying attention to travel warnings from Britain or the United States.
Reuters, Tourists in UAE shrug off Houthi missile attacks.
Yemen's Houthis shut down community radio stations in Sanaa and are targeting journalists. The charge d'affaires at the U.S. embassy for Yemen, Cathy Westley, expressed concern: "The suspension of some media outlets and the arbitrary detention and harassment of journalists speaks of a disturbing trend." Journalists said Houthi forces raided and closed Voice of Yemen Radio, Grand FM Radio, Al Oula Radio, Community Childhood Radio, Al-Diwan Radio, and Delta Radio.
Arab News, Houthis slammed for closing down radio stations, abusing prisoners in Sanaa.
A senior U.S. State Department official says there's an "end game" to the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna. The negotiations are to resume this week, and this could be the final round before a deal is reached or is called off. After 19 months of negotiations with two Iranian governments, the U.S. says Iran's nuclear program has advanced to the point of no return.
ABC News, ''End game': Iran nuclear talks nearing resolution or nuclear crisis, US warns.
The Arab League's secretary general says Syria likely won't attend the next summit meeting because there's no consensus for the country to be readmitted to the organization. Aboul Gheit said, however, that member states would discuss letting the regime of Bashar Al-Assad back in when the league meets next month. The Arab League suspended Syria in 2011.
The National, Arab League chief says no consensus on readmitting Syria but issue to be discussed.
Qatar's foreign minister reiterated his country's opposition to recognizing Syria. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, commenting on reports that Syria might be welcomed back to the Arab League, said: "We at Qatar see that there were reasons when the Arab League suspended Syria's membership, and those reasons remain."
He said Qatar won't normalize relations with the regime of Bashar Al-Assad because that would be "unfair to the Syrian nation."
Doha News, Qatar reiterates refusal to normalize with Assad regime.
And Qatar won't normalize relations with Israel. Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said Qatar previously had ties with Israel "when there was prospect for peace" with the Palestinians, but lost hope after the Gaza war in 2008-2009.
Axios, Qatar's foreign minister rules out normalization with Israel, Syria.
The world's most distinguished diplomats call it "INDISPENSABLE"! Here's what they say: "REEDNEWSARABWORLD is INDISPENSABLE daily reading if you're trying to follow the complex dynamics of the Arab world." Subscribe now and become a paid subscriber to REEDNEWSARABWORLD! Free subscriptions end soon!
Thank you!
A Saudi Arabia man sentenced to death as a teenager was released from prison after 10 years. Dawoud al-Mahhoun, then 17, was arrested as a minor for demonstrating in anti-government protests. He and two others, Ali Al-Nimr and Abdullah al-Zaher, were handed death penalties, but their sentences were commuted to 10 years in prison. In 2021, Saudi King Salman decreed that the kingdom would no longer impose the death penalty on people who committed crimes as minors.
Al-Zaher was released after nine years, and Al-Nimr was released in October. Al-Nimr is a nephew of the influential Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr who was executed by Saudi Arabia in 2016.
Middle East Eye, Saudi Arabia: Protester detained as a minor released after facing death penalty.
Fitch Ratings gave an "A" credit rating to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Fitch said it expects the PIF to tap the international markets while continuing to benefit from stable capital flows from the Saudi government "during the growth stage of its operations."
Reuters, Fitch rates Saudi Arabia's PIF "A."
Lebanon's bus, taxi and truck drivers started a three-day strike, blocking roads and demanding the government address surging prices. It was the second time in three weeks the transport unions called a strike action. Schools, universities, and shops were forced to close.
Associated Press, Lebanon's taxi, bus and van drivers block roads in protest of surging prices.
At least four people were killed and 22 wounded by a rocket attack on a civilian area near Aleppo in northern Syria. The attack occurred in al Bab, northeast of Aleppo near the border area controlled by local Kurdish forces and the PKK, the anti-Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but it was believed to have been fired by PKK artillery located behind Turkish lines.
ANSA, Syria: 4 killed, 22 wounded in attack north of Aleppo.
Five Islamic State militants were killed in an air strike in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. Iraqi forces carried out the attack at dawn on a cave used as a hideout by the IS in the Hatra desert and killed the five militants inside. ISIS remnants continue to carry out guerrilla attacks in Iraq, and Iraqi forces have in recent months retaliated with deadly attacks.
UNI, 5 IS militants killed in N Iraq airstrike.
Tunisia's President Kais Saied acknowledged a salary crisis in the country and ordered his government to pay civil servants on time. Workers unions had said salaries had been delayed more than 10 days, while it is customary in Tunisia to pay wages in the middle of the month. Teachers unions had also denounced delays.
Middle East Eye, Tunisia: President Saied acknowledges salary crisis after unions protest delays.
Tunisia hopes to seal a funding agreement with the International Monetary Fund in April. Talks have been halted since July 2021 when President Kais Saied dismissed the Tunisian government. Discussions started again when Saied laid out plans for a referendum and parliamentary elections in 2023.
Reuters, Tunisia targets IMF deal in April, says state salaries secure.
Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz, in a surprise visit to Bahrain, said he would sign a security cooperation agreement with Bahrain. The visit marked the first time a Israeli defense minister has visited Bahrain, and the first time an Israeli military aircraft had landed there. The two countries normalized relations in 2020. Israel's defense ministry disclosed Gantz's visit but gave no details of what a security accord would include.
Reuters, Israeli defense chief visits Bahrain amid heightened Gulf tensions.
The United Arab Emirates welcomed an apology from Somalia's prime minister years after a Somali operation seized Emirati aircraft and almost $10 million in cash.
The UAE ended a military training mission in Somalia after the incidents in 2018. Now the Somali prime minister's apology "opens a new page," senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash said.
Associated Press, UAE welcomes Somali apology for seized cash, easing dispute.
Sudan's resistance committees are leading the opposition against the country's military government. The committees have organized demonstrations of hundreds of thousands of protesters in cities across Sudan, defying communication blackouts and security crackdowns.
Reuters, Sudan's resistance committees take center stage in fight against military rule.
The United Nations Security Council voted to extend its political mission in Libya, but only for three months. The decision was made after as dispute between the United States and Russia over a new top UN envoy to Libya, which is trying to form a united government after 10 years of turmoil.
Associated Press, UN extends Libya mission after US-Russia dispute over envoy.
MORE: Algeria's Sonatrach says project with Gazprom to start production in 2025, Reuters... Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to raise oil output in Neutral Zone, Arab News... Saudi Arabia signs drone development deal with telecom giant, Al-Monitor... Saudi Arabia sees 906 pct increase in entertainment, arts records: Commerce ministry, Alarabiya... Israel upholds use of surveillance technology on protesters, Associated Press... FBI admits it acquired NSO's Pegasus spyware in 2019 - report, Jerusalem Post... Emirati firm sends massive vacuum unit to Iraqi refinery, Al Monitor... Israel's top Arab police officer resigns amid investigation, Associated Press.
News You Missed
Four U.S. citizens are in prison in Iran or are barred from leaving the country. The U.S. State Department says it's negotiating with Iran separately from the nuclear negotiations in Vienna, but also "it is very hard for us to imagine a return to the JCPOA while four innocent Americans are behind bars or are detained in Iran."
A report on the four U.S. citizens.
Washington Post, Who are the U.S. citizens being held in Iran?
Bruce Riedel writes that the Houthis in Yemen have "won the war" and calls it "a remarkable accomplishment for a militia group with no air force or navy." He called the Houthi accomplishment "strikingly like Hezbollah's success story in Lebanon." He writes in a Brookings series, based in part on a forthcoming book.
Brookings, The Houthis have won in Yemen: What next?
An estimated 43,000 men, women, and children are still held in prisons and camps across Syria and Iraq because they were once associated with ISIS. Last week's assault on a prison in northeastern Syria signaled a potential Islamic State insurgence. A clear threat, but many countries are reluctant to bring back their people who traveled to join ISIS. Not all of those volunteered, some were trafficked, and the large number of minors held in prisons raises the question: "Who is a foreign fighter?"
Washington Post, Thousands of men, women, and children remain in detention because of their former ties to ISIS.
Compare your daily news from REEDNEWSARABWORLD with even the largest newspapers! A few paragraphs about Arab news, if you're lucky. (Except for the occasional disaster, which then becomes one-day news, no context, and goes away.) Keep up with what's important every day and get the same news the professionals read: REEDNEWSARABWORLD! Become a paid subscriber and don't miss an edition!